ARTICLE
MEDIUM
FIVE EFFECTIVE STRATEGIES TO GET PUBLISHED SELF PROMOTION IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF ANYONE'S CAREER, REGARDLESS OF PROFESSION by Caitlin Reagan, Digital Content Manager at the AIA
P
erhaps the greatest aspect to pursuing a career in architecture is the opportunity to create a building or structure. Even more impressive is that architects’ designs and problem-solving skills extend beyond the traditional job description, into areas like research, urban planning, and correcting climate change.
A good rule of thumb for this practice comes from Thomas Jefferson. He said, “The most valuable of all talents is that of never using two words when one will do.”
If you’re hoping to get your thoughts, ideas, or perspective published in a local newspaper, website, or trade magazine, you must understand one thing: It’s hard enough for writers to land a writing gig, and even harder for architects to do the same. That said, the most effective strategy many writers use involves simply being noticed, whether through social media or a blog. In fact, these days, most writers understand that the quickest way to a book deal starts with a blog.
With a little research and a lot of persistence, the payoff in getting noticed by the right groups of people can be rewarding. The trick is finding the right audiences.
Here are five strategies you can use to get your work, designs or writing published…or noticed. START YOUR OWN BLOG Thankfully, the advent of technology provides anyone with an internet connection the opportunity to share their portfolio of work with the world. A number of do-it-yourself blogs can guide you through the process of displaying content in a visually appealing format. For instance, tumblr.com or wordpress.com offer free templates that users can choose from quickly and easily. Another strong option is issuu.com, where you can both view architectural portfolios and blogs, and create your own “publication.” Ease into the process, however. When you open an account and choose a template, make certain you have the content to fill the blog. Draft some opening content that tells viewers who you are, what you’ve designed, where you’ve studied, and your interests. Then choose a format that displays your work in a suitable format for viewers. Ask yourself if your content is text-based or more visual. Perhaps it’s both. WRITE USING PLAIN ENGLISH This is single-handedly the most important piece of advice that I’ve ever received in my writing career, and it’s the strongest tidbit I can pass on to others. Avoid using flowery language, or heavy academic terms. Instead, write concisely and in the clearest way possible. If your goal is to get published, then never make it a challenge for readers to understand what you’re trying to communicate.
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CONNECTION
THE ARCHITECTURE AND DESIGN JOURNAL OF THE YOUNG ARCHITECTS FORUM
SHARE YOUR WORK WITH THE RIGHT AUDIENCES
If you aren’t on social media already, you should think about starting your own accounts. Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn are havens for enthusiasts of all types. For instance, if you specialize in healthcare design, start following the websites that cover this topic like Healthcare Design Magazine or the Center for Health Design. In other words, familiarize yourself with how others cover your specialty or interest. Then participate in the conversations and engagement that’s already happening. Doing this creates the opportunity for you to be seen as a part of a particular group, and perhaps a source for information and insight. SUBMIT YOUR WORK TO THE AIA Another potential option is to submit your work to the AIA, which has a number of opportunities for you or your work to be published. As a digital content manager for the AIA, I can tell you that while we may not publish everything that comes across our desks, we are always grateful to hear from members about their work. If we see an opportunity, we might pursue a story on it for AIA Architect or perhaps alert the media relations team to see if it’s pitch-worthy for a mainstream outlet. MAKE FRIENDS WITH PEERS, ENTHUSIASTS, BLOGGERS AND OBVIOUSLY, REPORTERS Find your peers, as well as the architectural enthusiasts, bloggers, and in some cases, reporters, and make friends with them. Social media is a great option for this. Discover what types of articles or images they’re sharing on their channels, engage in conversations, and share your work via hyperlinks to your blog. Positioning yourself as a resource or enthusiast to influencers increases your chances of having your work or writing published. ■